Best Running Watches for Fall Marathon Training
If you're wondering how to start running or train for a marathon, you probably looked into running watches. Good running watches keep your time. But the best running watches keep track your pace, steps, distance, sleep, and a dizzying amount more.
I used to be a minimalist runner. I never logged miles with a watch, phone, or anything aside from running shoes, shorts, and a shirt. But I've come around to the technology. Now, I always run with a running watch—and I’ll never go back.
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Below, I’ve put together a list of the best running watches that covers a range of running styles and needs, from super minimalist folks looking for basic information to hardcore ultrarunners who need weeks-long battery life. The capabilities of modern running watches are impressive, but there are options at every price point that pack stellar performance.
My top choice is the Garmin Forerunner 265. And if you want to learn more about other great running products, check out the Men's Journal roundups of the best Hoka running shoes, best marathon running shoes, and best On running shoes.
Related: We Tested Dozens of Running Jackets. These Are the Best for Any Kind of Weather
Best Running Watches at a Glance
- Overall Best Running Watch: Garmin Forerunner 265
- Best Value Running Watch: Coros Pace 3
- Best Apple Watch for Running: Apple Watch Ultra 2
Best Running Watches of 2024
Overall Best Running Watch: Garmin Forerunner 265
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Most serious runners are familiar with Garmin’s Forerunner lineup. Such running watches have been around for over six years, and they’ve consistently pushed the technology of the genre forward.
The newest Garmin Forerunner 265 features subtle updates over the 255, which was already a fantastic watch. Music capability is now standard on the Forerunner (it was previously available as an option), but the biggest update is the new AMOLED touchscreen display, a significant improvement over the memory-in-pixel display on outgoing models. Overall, I’ve found the interface and user experience for this watch have become exceptionally smooth.
Another noteworthy upgrade: Updated software gives the watch high-end training readiness features. The watch analyzes a variety of metrics to help you determine your recovery level, so you know when to push hard or give your body a break.
Battery Life: Up to 13 days
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
New AMOLED display | High price point |
Great user interface |
Best Feature Set: Coros Apex 2 Pro
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Pound for pound, it’s hard to beat Coros Apex 2 Pro. It isn’t cheap, but this running watch has everything the vast majority of runners need. Competing with watches like the Suunto 9 Peak Pro and the Garmin Forerunner 965, the Apex 2 Pro has improved in virtually every aspect over its predecessor.
It now claims a whopping 75 hours of battery life on GPS mode, and the sapphire glass plus titanium bezel means the whole unit has become more durable and resistant to the elements. The touchscreen has also seen some user improvements, and paired with an already expansive list of features like precise mapping, plenty of activity tracking options, and music integration, this watch is a serious contender.
Battery Life: Up to 30 days
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Long battery life | Expensive |
Durable construction |
Best Running Watch for Health Tracking: Fitbit Sense 2
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Fitbit has a loyal following, and for good reason: The brand’s devices, including Fitbit Sense 2, make robust health tracking easy. Aside from its sleek looks vaguely reminiscent of an Apple Watch, Sense 2 has some notable upgrades.
The Fitbit app enables you to keep tabs on precise data such as breathing rate, temperature, and ECG. Better yet, all of this tech comes in a relatively affordable package, which makes the second iteration of the Sense a real winner.
Battery Life: Up to six days
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
In-depth health tracking | GPS isn't as accurate as other competitors |
Affordable |
Best Minimal Running Watch: Polar Pacer
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Polar Pacer hits the sweet spot of cost and functionality, especially when you consider how expensive most running watches are getting.
Pacer looks minimal and sleek, and its 40 gram weight means that it should rest comfortably on your wrist. It tracks your activities accurately, functions quickly due to its new processor, and doesn’t bog you down with too many options. Like the Pace 2, it's another great running watch for under $250.
Battery Life: Up to seven days
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Lots of activity tracking options | Lacks non-workout features |
Great value |
Best Do-It-All Running Watch: Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED
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Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED is one of the most capable and exciting running watches ever made.
The latest Fenix has a far better operating system, which is much more intuitive and makes getting the watch up and running far easier. In the 51mm version, there's four full weeks of battery life with five to six runs per week and 24/7 wear. For an AMOLED screen watch, that's astonishing.
The sheer customization and functionality of this watch means that I’m always learning something new and dialing it in to my needs. I love to run and cycle, but the golf features and incredible specificity of the sport modes makes this a true watch for every part of your life. The steep price tag may turn off some buyers, but if you want a watch that will serve you incredibly well for years, there is none better than this.
Battery life: Four weeks
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Long battery life | Expensive |
High level of customization and functionality | Too many features if you're just looking to run |
Best Value Running Watch: Coros Pace 3
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Getting a high-quality running watch at a decent price has always felt like an impossibility. But Coros keeps churning out incredible watches at really competitive prices. Coros Pace 3 is the latest in an excellent line, and at $230, you're hard-pressed to find better features.
I’m averaging about a week and a half of battery life for near daily activities and continuous use. Pair that with a comfortable fit and full feature set that includes sport modes, GPS, heart rate monitor, and sleep tracking make this the watch I most often recommend to friends and family. Most folks don’t want or need more than that.
Battery life: 10 days
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Great value | Not as many features as other watches |
Comfortable fit |
Best Simple Running Watch: Suunto Race
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As much as I love the sophisticated—yet often complicated—interfaces of Garmin and Apple watches, there’s something to love about Suunto’s simplicity. And the new Suunto Race is a gorgeous, capable watch.
The brand's first with an AMOLED screen, Suunto Race boasts a simple user interface and a quick startup time. Plus, it has the most comfortable silicone strap I’ve ever tested in a running watch.
If you don't want to be distracted by a ton of data on your screen, Suunto Race makes it easy to turn it off. All that extra information is available when you need it, whether on the watch itself or the Suunto app, but only when you want it. One downside: Suunto Race sometimes has a slight screen lag.
Battery time: 40 hours
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Quick startup time | Screen lag |
Simple interface | Low battery life |
Comfortable silicone strap |
Best Apple Watch for Running: Apple Watch Ultra 2
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While Apple Watch Ultra 2 can’t match the battery life of competitors, it's a great lifestyle watch that works for everything, including running and fitness tracking.
But, ability to use your watch as a communication device separates the Ultra 2 from the rest of this list. When you’re on a run and don’t wanna bring your phone), it’s nice to be able to answer a call or send a quick text.
Plus, Apple features a ton of sport modes and loads of apps—maybe too many apps. My approach to running watches is simple, and the Ultra 2 can deliver there just as well as it can deliver for folks who want every little detail.
Battery life: 36 hours
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Great for more than just running | Low battery life |
Sleek design and interface | Amount of apps can be distracting |
Why Run With a Running Watch?
There are a few reasons to wear running watches. First, I don’t think there’s any better way to improve at the sport than by monitoring your progress, and it’s difficult to track your splits, distance, and other essential information without the GPS tracking and built-in sensors a running watch provides. These days, running watches also measure granular health data like blood oxygen levels, ECG, sleep cycles, and way more. Not everyone needs or wants that level of detail, but a fitness tracker watch can help you get a better sense of your overall physical state.
Finally, a running watch can hold you accountable. Seeing real data on your running can motivate you to keep up the habit and stick with your run routine. And while you may not be sharing every workout on Strava, it can be exciting—inspiring even—to monitor your own fitness progress. A running watch makes it easy to do that.
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